Swinging over the Passaic River, the Newark Drawbridge stands as a testament to Newark’s industrial age. This bridge links Newark and Harrison in Northeastern New Jersey. It’s also known as the Morristown Line Bridge.
The Newark Drawbridge is the eleventh bridge from the river’s mouth at Newark Bay. It sits 5.85 miles upstream. This swing bridge has been operated by New Jersey Transit since it opened in 1903.
Before the Newark Drawbridge was built, rail service transported passengers and freight. They came from the west across the Hackensack Meadows. They went to Bergen Hill, where tunnels led to Hudson River terminals.
In 1836, the Morris and Essex Railroad created a route from Orange to Newark. They used the New Jersey Rail Road at Centre Street. This allowed them to cross the river and reach Paulus Hook in Jersey City. By 1855, the railroad had its own bridge over the Passaic. By the early 1860s, the railroad used the Long Dock Tunnel to Hoboken.
In the early 1900s, the railroad elevated the line approaching the river. It had previously run at grade along Division Street in Newark. The current Newark Drawbridge was built. It was shifted 35 feet upstream.
In 1945, the Morris and Essex Railroad merged into the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. In 1960, DL&W merged with the Erie Railroad forming the Erie Lackawanna Railroad. Conrail absorbed it in 1976. New Jersey Transit has operated passenger service since 1983.
The Passaic River is tidally influenced for 17 miles downstream of the Dundee Dam. The maritime traffic is limited and the Newark Drawbridge rarely needs to open. Regulations require a 24-hour notice since 1998.
The Newark Drawbridge is used by New Jersey Transit for the Montclair-Boonton Line. Both branches of the Morris and Essex Lines use it. That includes the Morristown Line and the Gladstone Branch. It’s just east of Newark Broad Street Station. That is the first stop traveling west from Hoboken Terminal and Secaucus Junction.
In 2004, NJT commissioned a study of the bridge. It planned for its future replacement. From 2009 to 2010, the Newark Drawbridge underwent a $23 million maintenance and repair project. Skanska performed the work.
The Newark Drawbridge is a vital part of New Jersey’s transportation history. It continues to serve the region today. As you look at this structure consider all the history it has lived through. Imagine the countless trains and passengers that have passed over the Newark Drawbridge. It connects communities.